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Industry 4.0 aims to establish highly flexible production, enabling effective and efficient mass customisation of products. Modelling techniques and simulation of production processes are among the core techniques of the manufacturing industry that facilitate flexibility and automation of a shop floor in the era of Industry 4.0. In this paper, we present an approach to support production process modelling and process model management. The approach is based on Model-Driven (MD) principles and comprises a Domain-Specific Modelling Language (DSML) named Multi-Level Production Process Modelling Language (MultiProLan). MultiProLan uses a set of concepts to specify production process models suitable for automatic instruction generation and execution of the instructions in a simulation or on a shop floor. By using MultiProLan, process designers may create process models independent of the specific production system. Such process models can either be automatically enriched by matching and scheduling algorithms or manually enriched by a process designer via MultiProLan's modelling tool. In this paper, we also present an application of our approach in the assembly industry to showcase its dynamic resource management, generation of production documentation, error handling and process monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocatalysis has emerged in recent decades toward a widely applied catalysis technology in the chemical industry. In particular the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries benefit from the advantages of biocatalysis, which made its way to a dominating industrial core technology for manufacturing chiral molecules. However, often biocatalysis is still to a certain extent away from having solved all challenges being needed for a "perfect industrial process technology". Among existing challenges are, e.g., stability under process conditions and easy separation of the catalyst from the reaction mixture with the additional option of recyclability. Here metal‐organic framework (MOF) structures offer unique advantages, which can be beneficial for biocatalysis. A particular valuable option is integration of enzymes into MOF‐subunits, thus having a potential positive impact on stability (by reducing the tendency of unfolding) and enabling compartmentalization as a beneficial strategy in, e.g., chemoenzymatic synthesis. In this "Perspective"‐article, first the state of the art in biocatalysis is briefly summarized together with current challenges. Then, a short overview about current research achievements in "merging" MOF chemistry and biocatalysis is given as well as an outlook written from a biocatalysis practitioner's view, how MOF‐enzyme hybrid systems can play a major role in future process development to overcome existing hurdles of enzymatic catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A growing body of literature supports the use of Acceptance-and commitment therapy (ACT) for a wide range of mental health problems in children and adolescents, but less is known about ACT when given to adolescents in a group format. Consequently, this study aimed to explore the subjective experiences of adolescents who had completed a group-based ACT for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Adolescents’ perceptions of the core therapeutic processes of ACT and the means used to enhance them, as well as the interplay between ACT processes and the group format, were of primary interest. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with seven adolescents, of which five were girls and two were boys, between 16 and 19  years old. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The adolescents varied greatly in their experience of ACT’s core processes and the methods used to enhance them. Most found the core processes meaningful and educational, especially appreciating the concept of values and value-based action. However, some perceived the core processes as irrelevant and provocative, particularly interpreting acceptance as “giving up.” The metaphors and practical exercises were experiences as playful and instructive supplements to the more theoretical elements of therapy, but also as childish and embarrassing. The group format facilitated normalization and support and seemed to increase the adolescents’ motivation and adherence to therapeutical work, but it also triggered socially anxious thoughts and self-censoring for some. Conclusion: The results from the current study support previous literature indicating that group-based ACT is an acceptable and feasible treatment format for adolescents. Yet, the varying experiences underscores the need for further studies exploring how to accommodate the group format to the diverse personal and developmental disparities in this age group. Randomized controlled trials are also needed to compare the effectiveness of individual versus group format of ACT for adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal guts contain numerous microbes, which are critical for nutrient assimilation and pathogen defence. While corals and other Cnidaria lack a true differentiated gut, they possess semi-enclosed gastrovascular cavities (GVCs), where vital processes such as digestion, reproduction and symbiotic exchanges take place. The microbiome harboured in GVCs is therefore likely key to holobiont fitness, but remains severely understudied due to challenges of working in these small compartments. Here, we developed minimally invasive methodologies to sample the GVC of coral polyps and characterise the microbial communities harboured within. We used glass capillaries, low dead volume microneedles, or nylon microswabs to sample the gastrovascular microbiome of individual polyps from six species of corals, then applied low-input DNA extraction to characterise the microbial communities from these microliter volume samples. Microsensor measurements of GVCs revealed anoxic or hypoxic micro-niches, which persist even under prolonged illumination with saturating irradiance. These niches harboured microbial communities enriched in putatively microaerophilic or facultatively anaerobic taxa, such as Epsilonproteobacteria. Some core taxa found in the GVC of Lobophyllia hemprichii from the Great Barrier Reef were also detected in conspecific colonies held in aquaria, indicating that these associations are unlikely to be transient. Our findings suggest that the coral GVC is chemically and microbiologically similar to the gut of higher Metazoa. Given the importance of gut microbiomes in mediating animal health, harnessing the coral "gut microbiome" may foster novel active interventions aimed at increasing the resilience of coral reefs to the climate crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, recycled Ti6Al4V alloy powder was utilized as a reinforcement to enhance the mechanical and modal properties of polyurethane foam (PUF) core-based sandwich composites. Sandwich composite having carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite face sheets and Ti6Al4V powder-reinforced PUF cores were manufactured. The PUF cores were reinforced with two different variants of Ti6Al4V powder based on particle sizes from 1 to 3 wt.%. The dispersion quality was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A detailed experimental modal analysis was conducted to evaluate the modal properties in terms of the natural frequencies and damping ratios of the sandwich specimens. A comprehensive mechanical study was also conducted in terms of compression, buckling, flexural, and impact tests according to the relative ASTM standards. The experimental results demonstrated that the Ti6Al4V reinforced sandwich specimens exhibited superior mechanical and modal properties with enhanced PUF cores. Improvements in excess of 21%, 37%, and 24% were recorded in the compression, buckling, and flexural response of the reinforced specimens, respectively, compared to those of their neat counterparts. Similarly, remarkable improvements were also observed in the experimental modal and impact properties of the Ti6Al4V alloy powder-reinforced sandwich composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship on organizational change has de-emphasized environment, core competencies at founding, and structural inertia in favor of the study of strategic management. We encourage renewed consideration of forces over which managers have less control. In a reconsideration and conceptual extension of Hager and Brudney's nature and nurture influences on nonprofit efforts to recruit volunteers, we introduce central dimensions of organizational ecology theory. We assert that more attention to the tenets of organizational ecology will sensitize the field to the influence of environments in which organizations operate. Consistent with Hager and Brudney, our longitudinal assessment of nonprofits not only records the value of purposeful adjustments of programs but also highlights how the evolution of structural conditions plays an essential role in core organizational outcomes in volunteer management. Beyond the usual validation of strategic management, we emphasize that the influence of environment and structure is an essential determinant of the fates of organizations over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Al2O3 ceramic honeycomb sandwich bars with a hexagonal core were manufactured through SLA 3D-printing to analyze the impact of hole placement, designed for the removal of uncured slurry, on the bending strength of the samples. Several holes were placed specifically on the samples in the design in two different ways. In the initial design, the holes were placed on the honeycomb sandwich structure's upper and lower face-sheets. In the second design, the holes were positioned in the direction of the sample thickness, in the lateral walls. The moment of inertia values for the honeycomb structures were calculated with the help of experimental elastic modulus results, and true bending strength was determined according to these results. Nominal strength values were found using the common three-point bending formula. The true bending strength value of Al2O3 with lateral holes was 73% higher than Al2O3 with holes on face-sheets, while the nominal bending strength was 79% higher. Al2O3 samples with holes on face-sheets exhibited a significantly higher failure index compared with both the bulk samples and the Al2O3 samples with lateral holes. The holes on the face-sheets reduced the cross-sectional area of the tensile surface and contributed to an increase in stresses due to the stress concentration effect. The Al2O3 samples with lateral holes provided a great advantage of specific strength, reaching an average value of 65% above the specific strength of the bulk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand collaboration requirement (BCR) evaluation is a key premise for core manufacturing enterprises to lead the collaborative brand construction of a large-scale manufacturing industry value chain (LSMIVC). Because brand collaboration (BC) in LSMIVC requires interaction with other businesses, BCRs are interactional and decision-makers come from multiple groups. However, existing requirement evaluation approaches rarely consider the interactional nature of requirements and the multiple groups nature of decision makers, producing unstable, easy-to-fail, and inaccurate results. Therefore, this study presents a multi-group decision-making approach based on a decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory and analytic network process (DEMATEL-ANP). This approach integrates the assessment information of BCRs from group decision-makers and prevents unstable and easily invalid assessment results owing to an incomplete decision-maker team. Additionally, DEMATEL-ANP was used to rank the interaction BCRs, which improved the accuracy and effectiveness of the requirement evaluation. Finally, the developed approach and model were tested against the air-conditioning industry value chain. The case study shows that the proposed method can determine requirement ranking. Comparative tests show that the proposed approach is effective and superior, and is more consistent with real-world BC situations. Therefore, the proposed approach provides a direction and theoretical basis for core manufacturing enterprises to implement BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sandwich panel incorporated a honeycomb core, a widely utilized composite structure recognized as a fundamental classification of composite materials. Comprised a core resembling a honeycomb, possessing thickness and softness, and is flank by rigid face sheets that sandwich various shapes and materials. This paper presents an examination of the static and dynamic analysis of lightweight plates made of aluminum honeycomb sandwich composites. Honeycomb sandwich plate samples are 300 mm long, and 300 mm wide, the heights of the core have been varied at four values ranging from 10 to 25 mm. The honeycomb core is manufactured from Aluminum material by using a novel technique namely resistance spot welding (RSW) instead of using adhesive material, which is often used when an industrial flaw is detected. Numerical optimization based on response surface methodology (RSM) and design of experiment software (DOE) was used to verify the current work. A theoretical examination of the crashworthiness behavior (maximum bending load, maximum deflection) and vibration attributes (natural frequency, damping ratio, transient temporal response) of honeycomb sandwich panels with different design parameters was also carried out. In addition, the finite element method-based ANSYS software was used to confirm the theoretical conclusions. The findings of the present work showed that the relationship between the natural frequency, core height, and cell size is direct. In contrast, the relationship between the natural frequency and the thickness of the cell wall is inverse. Conversely, the damping ratio is inversely proportional to the core height and cell size but directly proportional to the thickness of the cell wall. The study indicates that altering the core height within 10-25 mm leads to a significant increase of 82% in the natural frequency and a notable decrease of 49% in the damping ratio. These findings are based on a specific cell size value of 0.01 m and a cell wall thickness of 0.001 m. Also, the results indicate that for a given set of cell wall thickness and size values, an increase in core height from (0.01-0.025) m, leads to a reduction of the percentage of maximum response approximately 76%. Conversely, the increasing thickness of the wall of cell wall, ranging 0.3-0.7 mm with a constant core height equal to 0.015 m, resulted in a de crease of maximum transient response by 7.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel approach is developed for manufacturing core annular hydrogels with a porous annulus. • The diffusivities of model proteins are measured in radial and axial directions. • The partition coefficients of model proteins are measured. • The porous hydrogels are imaged along different planes. • The SEM images and diffusivities and partition coefficients are used to assess pore connectivity and homogeneity of microstructure. Hypothesis : We propose to polymerize high water content hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) formulations in a rotating cylinder to explore the effect of the rotation on microstructure and critical parameters such as diffusivity of model proteins in porous poly-HEMA gels. Experiments : Cylindrical molds were partially filled with water-HEMA-initiator-crosslinker mixtures and exposed to UV light while undergoing rotation to polymerize into a cylindrical tube. The process was repeated multiple times to manufacture a core annular rod with multiple concentric rings, in which at least one ring was porous. The porous gels were imaged by scanning electron microscopy to explore the microstructure. The transport of model proteins bovine serum albumin and human γ-globulin was measured and modeled, in radial and axial directions, to obtain the effective diffusivity and partition coefficient. Also, the true diffusivity of proteins was calculated by accounting for the effects of porosity and tortuosity. Findings : The porous gels exhibited diffusion-controlled release of both model proteins. The hydrogels prepared with 55% water in the monomer mixture were porous with non-isotropic structure likely due to axially oriented pores with minimal radial connectivity. The gels with higher water content were isotropic with interconnected pores in both directions. The pore volume increased with water content, but the partition coefficient was relatively constant and less than one likely due to presence of isolated unconnected pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic stereolithography 3D printing technology has demonstrated great potential in alumina core manufacturing for advanced turbine blade casting. However, there have been very few photosensitive material formulas specifically designed for alumina core fabrications. Herein, we present the design of a 3D printable ceramic paste based on bimodal particle size distributions for additive manufacturing of high‐quality alumina cores. The coarse particles in the paste remain in their original shape while the fine particles transform into platelet‐like particles during sintering. The effects of coarse particles, platelet‐like particles, and grain growth on maintaining porosity and limiting shrinkage rates are studied. Furthermore, the vacuum sintering process is found to be beneficial for core material properties. The physical properties tests verify that the newly designed alumina paste in this work can meet the application requirement, which is superior to the previous research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D printing is an excellent choice for manufacture of ceramic cores; however, the inter-layer structures in 3D printed sample leads to anisotropy in microstructure and properties. In this paper, silica-based ceramic cores were prepared by digital light processing, and metallic Si powder was employed as mineralizer to relieve the anisotropy. The metallic Si powder converts into SiO 2 in oxidation reaction with significant volume expansion, which inhibits the shrinkage rate and partly fills the interlayer gaps of the ceramic core. Meanwhile, the metal Si powder leads to lower curing thickness in 3D printing, and thicken the interlayer gaps. Due to the cooperation of the oxidation reaction and decreased curing thickness by the metallic Si powder, the 0.4 wt% of metallic Si powder reduced the anisotropy in structure and mechanical property due to the alleviated inter-layer structure and the interlayer and intralayer strengths show optimal values of 11.4 MPa and 17.2 MPa at room temperature, respectively. This work inspires new guidance to 3D printing of ceramic cores with uniform microstructure and excellent mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohesion Policy is one of the core policy areas of the European Union and one of the largest expenditure items in its budget. Its impact is the subject of intense academic and policy debate, but its effectiveness is an empirical question still open. This article contributes to this debate by performing a region-specific investigation of the direct and indirect impact of Structural Funds expenditure. We employ a heterogeneous panel data model, which accommodates the spatial dependence in a heterogeneous setting and measures heterogeneous spatial spillover effects, both inward and outward. We also consider different channels of spatial spillovers with respect to standard geographical closeness. In particular, the introduction of new measures of proximity that explicitly consider economic linkages between regions is a novel contribution to the literature. The results clearly indicate that the impact of the Cohesion Policy, while positive overall, is highly heterogeneous and the Structural Funds expenditure generates substantial heterogeneous spatial spillovers: the positive effects do not remain confined to the target regions. Finally, strong spillover effects are channelled by value-added trade connections, particularly in regions belonging to the so-called 'Central European Manufacturing Core'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MEMS and micromotors may benefit from the increasing complexity of rotors by integrating a larger number of magnetic dipoles. In this article, a new microassembly and bonding process to integrate multiple Sm2Co17 micromagnets in a ferromagnetic core is presented. We experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of a multipolar micrometric magnetic rotor with 11 magnetic dipoles made of N35 Sm2Co17 micromagnets (length below 250 μm and thickness of 65 μm), integrated on a ferromagnetic core. We explain the micromanufacturing methods and the multistep microassembly process. The core is manufactured on ferromagnetic alloy Fe49Co49V2 and has an external diameter of 800 μm and a thickness of 200 μm. Magnetic and geometric measurements show good geometric fitting and planarity. The manufactured microrotor also shows good agreement among the magnetic measurements and the magnetic simulations which means that there is no magnetic degradation of the permanent magnet during the manufacturing and assembly process. This technique enables new design possibilities to significantly increase the performance of micromotors or MEMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerically predicting the mechanical behavior of additively manufactured sandwich structures, particularly those produced through filament extrusion, poses a significant challenge. Existing collapse mechanisms, including interlayer debonding, lack comprehensive numerical formulation. This paper presents an improved finite element (FE) modeling approach for filament‐based additive processes. Utilizing the cohesive zone model (CZM), it incorporates a cohesive‐type contact to simulate critical layer interactions, such as the core‐face sheet interface. Validation against a literature‐referenced composite sandwich structure with designed for additive manufacturing honeycomb core demonstrates good agreement between the proposed numerical approach and experimental test data in compression and bending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundry industry is responsible for the production of several potentially polluting and hazardous compounds. One of the major sources of pollution is the use of organic binders for the manufacturing of sand cores and sand moulds. To address this problem, in recent years, the use of low-emission products, known as inorganic binders, has been proposed. Their use in ferrous foundries, otherwise, is limited due to some problematic features that complicate their introduction in the manufacturing process, as often happens when a breakthrough innovation is introduced. In light of this, the aim of this work is to provide a Green Innovation Practice (GIP) to manage the introduction of green breakthrough innovations, as previously described, within an existing productive context. This practice was applied to better manage the experimental phase of the Green Casting Life Project, which aims to evaluate the possibility of using inorganic binders for the production of ferrous castings. After describing the state of the art of GIPs and their application in manufacturing contexts, the paper described the proposed GIP and its application to a real case consisting of testing inorganic binders in a ferrous foundry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper puts forth a systematic approach for evaluating the maturity level of production process automation in the context of digital transformation for manufacturing companies. The method was developed to address the absence of a sector-specific framework for assessing automation maturity growth, in line with the Industry 5.0 guidelines (incorporating sustainability, the circular economy, and human-centeredness). The survey covers six core areas for manufacturing companies: automation, robotization of production processes, digitalization of warehouse processes, flexibility, intralogistics, and end-to-end integration of key data management processes. The study aimed to advance digitalization through improved process automation maturity. The study surveyed 200 small- and medium-sized businesses operating in Poland from 2022 to 2024. The study presents a method for assessing enterprise operational maturity, covering the current and planned levels and the development plans for the next three years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Baolia H.W.Kung & G.L.Chu is a monotypic genus only known in Diebu County, Gansu Province, China. Its systematic position is contradictory, and its morphoanatomical characters deviate from all other Chenopodiaceae. Recent study has regarded Baolia as a sister group to Corispermoideae. We therefore sequenced and compared the chloroplast genomes of this species, and resolved its phylogenetic position based on both chloroplast genomes and marker sequences. Results: We sequenced 18 chloroplast genomes of 16 samples from two populations of Baolia bracteata and two Corispermum species. These genomes of Baolia ranged in size from 152,499 to 152,508 bp. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were primarily located in the LSC region of Baolia chloroplast genomes, and most of them consisted of single nucleotide A/T repeat sequences. Notably, there were differences in the types and numbers of SSRs between the two populations of B. bracteata. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on both complete chloroplast genomes from 33 species and a combination of three markers (ITS, rbcL, and matK) from 91 species, revealed that Baolia and Corispermoideae (Agriophyllum, Anthochlamys, and Corispermum) form a well-supported clade and sister to Acroglochin. According to our molecular dating results, a major divergence event between Acroglochin, Baolia, and Corispermeae occurred during the Middle Eocene, approximately 44.49 mya. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis showed that Baolia exhibited symplesiomorphies with those found in core Corispermoideae characteristics including pericarp and seed coat. Conclusions: Comparing the chloroplast genomes of B. bracteata with those of eleven typical Chenopodioideae and Corispermoideae species, we observed a high overall similarity and a one notable noteworthy case of inversion of approximately 3,100 bp. of DNA segments only in two Atriplex and four Chenopodium species. We suggest that Corispermoideae should be considered in a broader sense, it includes Corispermeae (core Corispermoideae: Agriophyllum, Anthochlamys, and Corispermum), as well as two new monotypic tribes, Acroglochineae (Acroglochin) and Baolieae (Baolia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The honeycomb sandwich panel presents a highly promising solution for enhancing ballistic behavior owing to its excellent strength-to-weight ratio and impact resistance. This study focuses on investigating the shock mitigation properties of honeycomb sandwich panels through experimentation and numerical simulation of high-velocity impact tests. Single-scale and double-scale hierarchical honeycomb cores are manufactured using selective laser melting with AlSi10Mg powder, combined with a pair of stainless steel (SS 316) sheets. High-velocity impact experiments were conducted within a velocity ranging from 100 to 270 m/s to examine the effects of different cores and projectile nose shapes on the dynamic response of the panels. Numerical simulations using ABAQUS/Explicit software were performed and validated against the experimental results. The sandwich panel with a double-scale hierarchical honeycomb core exhibited 7.8% and 6.1% more energy absorption compared to the single-scale hierarchical honeycomb core against conical and hemispherical nose projectiles, respectively. Additionally, the ballistic limit for the hemispherical projectile was found to be 8.9% higher than the conical-nose projectile under the same impact velocity and panel thickness. Moreover, an increase in panel thickness from 12 mm to 25 mm prompted a significant improvement of approximately 39% in specific energy absorption and a 44% increase in ballistic limit velocity. These findings highlight the considerable potential of single-scale and double-scale hierarchical honeycomb sandwich panels for the development of threat-resistant structures in critical dynamic loading applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper argues that when incumbent firms counter disruptive threats head-on, they may fail to develop the required new skills. This paper aims to propose an adjacent strategy which proved useful to Fujifilm to counter disruption of its core business of manufacturing photographic film. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses an inductive methodology. Based on a detailed case study of Fujifilm, the study proposes two frameworks: for the conditions under which an adjacent strategy is likely to be fruitful and how firms can make the strategy work in their organizations. Findings: The study finds that an adjacent strategy can be useful to firms under specific circumstances. Not only will the strategy help to counter decline in the core business, but it will also open up new avenues of growth. The success of the strategy requires significant efforts in aligning the leadership and the organization, however. Practical implications: The frameworks proposed in the study can be useful to incumbent firms in many industries as they battle new disruptive business models and players. Originality/value: The study's key argument that incumbent firms can leverage skills from their core business is novel. The study also proposes frameworks that can help firms decide whether an adjacent strategy is appropriate for them and how they can implement it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study is to optimise operating efficiency and minimise waste within a core foundry shop through the application of lean manufacturing techniques. The research emphasises the significance of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in aligning an expert assessment matrix with lean tool rankings, particularly in addressing the challenges associated with fu//y logic-based leanness computation. The expert assessment matrix was constructed with the entropy approach for generating weights and the TOPSIS ranking algorithm for evaluating lean tools. The use of the TOPSIS technique resulted in a notable level of agreement, with a percentage of73.42%, and a corresponding level of disagreement of26.57%, when compared to the expert evaluation matrix developed for the assessment of lean tools. The expert assessment matrix that was produced was utilised in the analysis of the efficacy of several lean tools inside a foundry core manufacturing line. The research suggests the implementation of an automated conveyor system for the transportation of several cores, which would lead to the optimisation of floor space, enhanced safety measures, and more schedule flexibility. The findings of this study reveal a significant decrease of 79.6% in non-value-added activities (NVA), a notable improvement of62.66% in process efficiency, a substantial reduction of66.66% in waiting times, a considerable decrease of 35% in personnel requirements, and a significant cost reduction of 45%. A three-month accident-free workplace demonstrated the efficacy of the safety strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publication presents a new shooting technique with reduced pressure in venting system for manufacturing foundry cores using inorganic sand mixture with Cordis binder. Traditional technologies for producing casting cores using blowing methods, despite their undeniable advantages, including the ability to produce cores in series, also come with some disadvantages. The primary drawbacks of the process involve uneven compaction structure of the cores, with denser areas primarily located under the blow holes, and under-shooting defects, which often occur in regions away from the blow hole or in increased core cross-sectional areas. In an effort to improve core quality, a concept was developed that involves incorporating a reduced pressure in the core box venting system to support the basic overpressure process. The solutions proposed in the publication with a vacuum method of filling the cavities of multi-chamber core boxes solve a number of technical problems occurring in conventional blowing technologies. It eliminates difficulties associated with evacuating the sand from the chamber to the shooting head and into technological cavity and increases the uniform distribution and initial degree of compacting of grains in the cavity. The additive role of this "underpressure" support is to enhance corebox venting by eliminating 'air cushions' in crevices and structural elements that obstruct the flow of evacuated air. The publication presents the results of studies on core manufacturing using blowing methods conducted in three variants: classic overpressure, utilizing the core box filling phenomenon by reducing pressure, and an integrated approach combining both these methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In countries with strict employment protection legislation, firms may seek to replace regular by atypical jobs in order to cut wages or to become more flexible. In Germany, the number of unprotected temporary jobs is comparatively low. During the past decades, temporary agency employment, however, has increased considerably and the share of agency workers is now above the EU average. Using German establishment data, the analysis draws on longitudinal (generalized method of moments) and cross-sectional (matching and difference in differences) methods to evaluate whether agency workers replaced or supplemented regular workers during and after the Great Recession of 2008/2009. The study finds that hiring (more) agency workers made it possible for user firms among Germany's core manufacturing industries to employ a larger number of regular workers at the same time. In specific sectors and regions, temp agencies therefore provided an alternative to government-sponsored instruments such as short-time work schemes. Obviously, from the view of workers, many disadvantages remain, even more so as it is rare for temp spells to offer a stepping stone into regular employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution was founded on the core belief that natural history is one of slow, incremental change, a concept he called "speciation." A hundred years later Eldredge and Gould challenged Darwin's theory, arguing that the data of paleontology reveals something quite different: long periods of stasis followed by bursts of change, a concept they called "punctuated equilibria." This article will follow that progression and then describe the three punctuated equilibria that I believe led to Homo sapiens. I argue that two of the three transitions are revealed in the hard data of the fossil record. The third is in the soft tissue of the brain. This third punctuated equilibrium placed Homo sapiens outside of evolution. Its arrival, 50,000 years ago, marked the beginning of the end of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut Mitteilungen is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Industry 4.0, which was proposed ten years ago to address both the industry's strengths and faults, has finally been replaced by Industry 5.0. It seeks to put human welfare at the core of manufacturing systems, achieving societal goals beyond employment and growth to firmly provide wealth for the long-term advancement of all of humanity. The purpose of this research is to examine the risks involved in the adoption of Industry 5.0's architecture. The paper discusses the significance of Industry 5.0 and the advanced technology needed for this industrial revolution, followed by a detailed discussion of Industry 5.0's human-centric strategy. The comprehensive literature review has resulted in the identification of risks and their mitigation strategies in Industry 5.0 architecture. A taxonomy with respect to different categories of risks has also been proposed. This study classifies Industry 5.0 system assets, identifies platform-independent risks, and develops countermeasures to protect against potential threats, irrespective of the business or domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Auxetic sandwich structures are gaining attention because of the negative Poisson's ratio effect offered by these structures. Re-entrant core was one configuration of the auxetic structures. There is a growing concern about the design and behavior of re-entrant cores in aerospace, marine and protection applications. Several researchers proposed various designs of re-entrant core sandwiches with various materials. The purpose of this study is to review the most recent advances in re-entrant core sandwich structures. This review serves as a guide for researchers conducting further research in this wide field of study. Design/methodology/approach: The re-entrant core sandwich structures were reviewed in terms of their design improvements, impact and quasi-static crushing responses. Several design improvements were reviewed including 2D cell, 3D cell, gradient, hierarchical and hybrid configurations. Some common applications of the re-entrant core sandwiches were given at the end of this paper with suggestions for future developments in this field. Findings: Generally, the re-entrant configuration showed improved energy absorption and impact response among auxetic structures. The main manufacturing method for re-entrant core manufacturing was additive manufacturing. The negative Poisson's ratio effect of the re-entrant core provided a wide area of research. Originality/value: Generally, re-entrant cores were mentioned in the review articles as part of other auxetic structures. However, in this review, the focus was solely made on the re-entrant core sandwiches with their mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machining plan is the core of guiding manufacturing production and is regarded as one of the keys to ensure the quality of product processing. Existing process design methods are inefficient to quickly handle the machining plan changed induced by the unpredictable events in real-time production. It inevitably causes time and economic losses for the enterprise. In order to express the evolutionary characteristics of product processing, the construction method of digital twin process model (DTPM) is proposed based on the knowledge-evolution machining features. Three key technologies include correlation structure of process knowledge, expression method of the evolution geometric features and the association mechanism between two are solved. On this basis, the construction framework of DTPM is illustrated. Then, the organisation and management mechanism of multi-source heterogeneous data is discussed in detail. At last, a case study of the complex machined part is researched, the results show that the processing time reduced by about 7% and the processing stability improved by 40%. Meanwhile, the implementation scheme, application process and effect of this case are described in detail to provide reference for enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the manufacturing of sand cores, silicate inorganic binders have emerged as promising green casting binder materials; however, their adhesive performance requires further improvement. In this study, to evaluate the impact of using water-soluble polyols, i.e. polyethylene glycol (PEG) and xylitol, to modify silicate adhesives, the effect of the content and type of water-soluble polyol on the colloidal stability, wettability and adhesive performance of a silicate binder were investigated. The structural evolution of the modified silicate binder and the polysilicate bondswere studied using characterisation techniques including infrared spectroscopy and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results revealed that PEG 400 and PEG 600 increased the size of polysilicate particles in the solution, resulting in flocculation of the silicate binders and easy precipitation or separation in a short period of time. However, PEG 200 and xylitol exerted little effect on the stability of the silicate solution. Moreover, 0.25 wt% PEG 200 reduced the surface tension of the solution from 78.93 to 54.15 mN/m and the equilibrium contact angle from 45.0° to 34.6°. The polyol promoted the dehydration and condensation of silicic acid gel to form a more stable three-dimensional network structure, improving the bonding strength of casting sand cores prepared using the silicate binder and silica sand from 2.42 to 3.02 MPa. This study not only unveils the role of PEG in improving the wettability and bonding behaviour but also provides an example of the rational use of environment-friendly water-soluble polyols to enhance the performance of green inorganic adhesive materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposal of Industry 5.0 has made sustainability, human-centric and resilience the core of digital manufacturing, which also puts forward new requirements for the human-machine interaction (HMI) paradigm in human-centric smart manufacturing (HCSM). In the manufacturing scenario, the process of HMI can be divided into four parts: 1) Sensors and hardware, where the environment information and input signals are collected, 2) Data processing, where the signals are converted into data, 3) Transmission mechanism, where the data is transmitted to the processing centre, and 4) Interaction and collaboration. Among them, sensors and data are expected to become breakthrough points in optimising HMI. This is not only due to the emergence of new research, innovation and technologies but also because they are closely influenced by the new design concepts brought about by Industry 5.0. This paper analyses the latest studies and technologies in the sensor field and their possible applications in HCSM scenarios. Then, opportunities and challenges of data analysis in the HMI in Industry 5.0 are discussed. Finally, based on the design concepts and requirements of Industry 5.0, this paper demonstrates how they will become the key points for future HMI development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many small wind turbine blades, the interior space between laminate skins is filled by a material core. The mechanical properties of the core are much less important than its density, which must be low to reduce the moment of inertia as high inertia increases both the starting time of the turbine and the gyroscopic loads on the blades. In this paper, we use, for the first time, the petiole of the miriti palm (PMP) as the core of four small blades, in order to analyze its effect on turbine starting performance. PMP is abundant in the Amazon region and harvesting it does not destroy the palm because the petiole regrows; therefore, harvesting is fully sustainable and may well have a major role in increasing the sustainability on wind turbine manufacturing. We consider the benefits of using the easily worked petiole for the core in terms of manufacturing, as demonstrated by the construction of a 0.598 m blade. PMP is less dense on average than alternative materials, such as expanded polystyrene and balsa wood. The starting performance is an important issue for small wind turbines. It is evaluated using a quasi-steady model, in which blade element momentum theory is coupled to Newton's Second Law. The low density of the small blade made using petiole of the miriti reduces the starting time by 10% when compared with expanded polystyrene and 42% when compared to balsa wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the digital economy era, traditional manufacturing enterprises face a significant challenge due to fierce competition regarding products, channels, digital technology, management, and core competencies. As a result, many enterprises strive to leverage digital technology to gain new processes, products, services, and business models, thereby enhancing their competitive edge. This paper mainly focuses on how digital innovation based on different value-creation methods can help enterprises build their core competence. Using a sample of 254 questionnaires from manufacturing enterprises in China, this study investigates whether and how efficiency-based, convergence-based, and generativity-based digital innovation supports the development of core competence using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Further, this paper examines the moderating effect of absorptive capacity. The empirical results indicate that digital innovation encourages the establishment of core competence, and absorptive capacity strengthens the role of efficiency-based digital innovation but inhibits convergence-based and generativity-based digital innovation. This study contributes to a clearer understanding of the significance of digital innovation for Chinese manufacturing enterprises and provides useful insights for other countries to rethink their innovation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-quality development of the industrial software industry is of strategic significance to enhancing the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and promoting the high-quality development of China's industrial economy. By integrating the "capital-technology-environment-human" production factor theory and configuration perspective, this paper constructs a comprehensive analysis framework that drives the total factor productivity (TFP) of the industrial software industry. This paper uses 40 typical industrial software firms in 2018–2020 as case samples and uses fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to empirically explore the influencing factors and complex mechanisms that achieve high-quality development of the industrial software industry. It is found that: (1) a single industrial factor is hardly a necessary condition to drive the industrial software industry; (2) there are four paths to achieving high TFP, which are summarized as "technical-human-environmental" balanced driving type, "capital-human-environmental" balanced driving type, "technical-capital" dual driving type, and "capital" single driving type. There are four driving mechanisms. There are also four not-high TFP configurations with asymmetric characteristics; (3) under certain conditions, the combination of capital factors, technical factors, environmental factors, and human factors can drive TFP in an "all roads lead to Rome". In this process, the government's attention plays a more universal role. The study not only expands the application scenarios of fsQCA but also provides decision guidelines for the practice of strategic emerging industrialization represented by the industrial software industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binder jetting method was used for printing ceramic green body using heavy calcium carbonate (HCC) processed from dolomite consisting of CaMg(CO 3) 2 as raw material, and the nano-ZrO 2 dispersion was used to vacuum impregnate the ceramic green body. After sintering, the low-cost high strength soluble ceramic core was obtained. The CaO generated after the decomposition of the HCC reacted with the ZrO 2 at high temperature to form CaZrO 3. This reaction reduced the porosity of the ceramic core, thereby improving its bending strength by 317.6%. The CaZrO 3 formed made the sintered ceramic core have certain hydration resistance due to the insolubility of the CaZrO 3 , extending the use time of the ceramic core. The CaO and MgO generated after the decomposition of the HCC also ensured the good solubility of the ceramic core. This study provides a new method for the preparation of the low-cost high strength soluble ceramic cores by additive manufacturing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Economic Geography (NEG)'s agglomerative forces strongly determined the location of firms, in spite of policy intervention blatantly activist intended to reverberate the geography of production (during the communist regime). Recent models of geography and trade recognize a bijective interaction between NEG forces and comparative advantages, they fully explain productive specialization. Our interpretation of the Czech manufacturing is in accordance with the NEG and its recent integration with the comparative advantages stream. In the panel data float up some invariant characteristics enhancing the attractiveness of traditional industrialized territories. The estimates embody the population density and gravitational and agglomeration forces. The time-invariant characteristics are present in the most industrial regions, influencing the localization of manufacturing activity in these spots. In spite of the forceful influence of path dependence, the very manufacturing cores underwent a process of restructuration, adapting the old-fashioned specialization pattern toward a more coherent production tailored to local assets, endowments and technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores the processability and properties of poly(furfuryl alcohol) (PFA)-based composites and draws comparisons with the industry-standard epoxy resin matrices used in printed circuit board applications. A poly(furfuryl alcohol)-based fiberglass prepreg was used to manufacture composite cores laminated with copper foil, which were then integrated in situ into printed circuit board prototypes through industry-typical manufacturing and assembly processes. Both copper cores and printed boards were tested to characterize the electrical properties and overall quality of the prototypes. The fabrication of the copper cores and manufacturing methods of the printed boards are described, alongside the results from the characterization of the cores and the testing of the printed boards. The inherent advantages and disadvantages of the material are highlighted, and areas of improvement for the processability of the material and reliability of the technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a development trend of cross-border integration of industries in the digital economy, service-oriented manufacturing has achieved certain research results in the construction of wide value chain. However, in the transition development stage, the collaborative efficiency problem of service-oriented manufacturing value co-creation is increasingly prominent due to the unbalanced development of digitalization level of heterogeneous subjects. Therefore, based on the perspective of various subjects in the value chain of service-oriented manufacturing, this paper analyzes the synergistic mechanism of value co-creation of core manufacturing, service enterprises and customers under the influence of digitalization level difference. Then the paper constructs a three-party digital cooperative evolution game model and uses Netlogo software to simulation analyse. The results reveal the collaborative path of service-oriented manufacturing digital transformation. According to the comparison of the paths of actual enterprises, it is found that the paths has universality, which provide strategic reference for service-oriented manufacturing digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of work on the use of soft materials in the cores of brushless DC motors (PM BLDC). In order to compare the properties of electric motors, three identical prototypes with a rated speed of 8,000 rpm were built, differing only in the material from which the core was made. In the construction of the cores, amorphous material (ASMM), nanocrystalline material (NSMM) and electrotechnical sheet (Fe-Si) were used. The paper also describes technologies for manufacturing motor cores from soft magnetic materials [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) have emerged as a very active area of research in glycoscience and nutrition. HMO are involved in the early development of infants and may help to prevent certain diseases. The development of chemical methods for obtaining individual HMO aids the global effort dedicated to understanding the roles of these biomolecules. Reported herein is the chemical synthesis of two common core hexasaccharides found in human milk, i. e. para‐lacto‐N‐hexaose (pLNH) and para‐lacto‐N‐neohexaose (pLNnH). After screening multiple leaving groups and temporary protecting group combinations, a 3+3 convergent coupling strategy was found to work best for obtaining these linear glycans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing industry is the economic pillar of the country, which can provide a large number of jobs and alleviate the employment pressure. In the manufacturing industry, the scheduling problem is the core problem of manufacturing intelligence and automation. Scheduling plays an extremely important role in the productivity as well as reliability of large-scale complex production systems. Therefore, a production scheduling method based on a genetic algorithm is proposed, which first uses a genetic algorithm to achieve scheduling optimization. Then, the minimizing carbon emission method is introduced to achieve green manufacturing. Finally, the production scheduling system (PSS) of flexible manufacturing form is constructed. The experimental results show that the proposed production scheduling method has a better scheduling optimization effect. The resource utilization rate reaches 0.884, and the workpiece processing time is reduced to 0.32s. The carbon emission cost is significantly lower than that of the traditional production scheduling system. The results show that using genetic algorithms to optimize the production scheduling of flexible manufacturing systems is feasible. It can improve production efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. The model proposed in this study can be a good solution to practical problems in industrial production intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last three years of his life, Michel Foucault made a sudden and unexpected turn to the ancient Cynics. In lectures from 1982 to 1984, and most notably in his final Collège de France lectures from 1984 (The Courage of the Truth: The Government of Self and Others II), he sought to recover from the Cynics a potential for critique, militant revolution, and a courageous means of speaking truth to power. Foucault's engaged scholarship is inspiring, but in many respects, it is indistinguishable from conventional scholarly approaches to ancient Cynicism. In both cases, the Cynics are thought to comprise a philosophical movement that is founded on a core of principled commitments, for instance to virtuous self-restraint, ascetic training, the pursuit of freedom from externalities of all kinds, rationalism, self-mastery, self-sufficiency, individualism, and cosmopolitanism. To reassess Foucault's analysis, I first examine the pitfalls of this picture, which rests on a largely Stoic retrojection. I then offer an alternative reading of the early Cynics, Diogenes first and foremost, that shows them in a different light. In the final part of the article, I return to Foucault to see how he fares once a different framework for understanding the Cynics is put in place. Foucault's effort to view Cynicism as a bridge to early Christian practices is only the most extreme and most questionable upshot of his final legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method is proposed to comprehensively study the eddy and circulating current losses of stator winding wound by multiple parallel strands, to further improve the power density of stator iron coreless permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) motors. Analytical models of the eddy and circulating current losses in stator winding are deduced firstly to explicitly express the influencing factors of these two losses. As is shown, these factors are mutually contradicting. While the eddy current loss can be greatly reduced by using multiple parallel conductor strands, the circulating current loss will be extensively increased. The factors influencing these two winding losses, such as the strand diameter, magnetization types, and rotating speed, are investigated. A prototype of stator iron coreless PMBLDC motor without an inner rotor core is manufactured and tested to validate the theory. The experimental results of winding eddy and circulating current losses with different combinations of strand diameters and parallel numbers agree well with the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, high alumina Cu-12.5Al alloy was selected as the base alloy, in which a different Mn content was added to prepare the powder core wire with a structure resistant to element burning. Arc melt deposition process was applied to produce Cu-12.5Al-xMn(x:1,2,3,4,5wt.%) alloy. The micromorphology, phase composition, grain size, and shape memory properties are studied. Results show that the shape recovery rate of Cu-12.5Al-xMn alloy is maintained at more than 65% under 4% pre-strain, and it reaches the highest when the Mn content is 3wt.%. At the same time, the shape recovery rate of the Cu-12.5Al-3Mn alloy has reached 84.43% under 6% pre-strain. In addition, the alloy completed the bending test under 10% pre-strain and had a shape recovery rate of 64.93%. According to the analysis, the shape memory properties are directly related to the grain refining effect of the special heat and mass transfer behavior of "melt droplets wrapped with unmelted particles" in the powder core wire. It is also affected by structure transformation, the number of martensitic populations, and its order degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble cores are an effective solution for complex inner cavity castings due to its excellent ability of leaching out in water. Compared with the rapid development of 3D printing sand mold/core, the water-soluble core additive manufacturing technology is limited by its material properties because water-soluble inorganic salt materials tend to agglomerate and are transparent for the visible and near-infrared lasers. In this study, a process based on direct jetting potassium carbonate solution onto powder bed mix with ceramic sand and bentonite followed with post-treatment was proposed to prepare the water-soluble sand core. The mechanical property of the core was detected in different stages of the forming process, and the mechanism of strength and collapse was analyzed with the aid of phase diagram and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the strength of binder jetting core exceeds 2 MPa after sintering at 900 °C for 10 min via pre-sintering and soaking, and the residual strength of the core decreases to 0.12 MPa, which guarantees the leachability of the core out of a casting under a slight vibration. Liquid bridge between sand grains built up in the process of binder jetting transforms into K2CO3 bonding bridge during the heating process, and a reticular structure of KAlSimOn grows up with the increase of sintering temperature and the extension of time, which explains the pre-sintered core maintains the original shape in K2CO3 solution and the sintered core has a low strength after soaking in water. What is more, a casting trial of tee pipe was conducted to verify the suitability of the developed cores for aluminum alloy castings with complex internal cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real economy has always been a crucial component of China's economic development, while fictitious economy has experienced rapid growth in past decades. As a result, the connection between the real and fictitious economy has become increasingly complex. This study utilized a hierarchical framework for classifying real economy and conducted a hidden causality test and EEMD method to explore a causal relationship between markets. Monthly data from July 2001 to September 2022 were analyzed using a TVP-SV-VAR model to investigate dynamic relationships among the manufacturing, construction, real estate, and financial industries as well as the mechanisms between the real and fictitious economies. The study outcomes demonstrated that the financial and real estate industries have only short-term positive effects on the manufacturing and construction industries, and in the later period of sample intervals, both industries had negative effects on the construction industry. The construction industry in the real economy has already shown a trend of moving "from Real to Virtual", while the core manufacturing industry in the real economy has not yet exhibited this trend. To prevent the spread of this trend in the real economy, it is necessary to guide the fictitious economy to serve the real economy by regulating its development appropriately. This study offers a novel perspective for examining the real economy and the fictitious economy in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]